PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SYSTEM WITH GENERATION MODULES
A photovoltaic power system includes a plurality of generation modules and a main communication apparatus. Each generation module has a photovoltaic panel assembly, a switch integrated apparatus, and a junction apparatus. The photovoltaic panel assembly has a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series. The switch integrated apparatus has a control unit and a switch unit. The junction apparatus is electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the switch integrated apparatus to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and deliver collected electricity to output terminals of the photovoltaic power generation module. The main communication apparatus is connected to the switch integrated apparatuses to turn on or turn off the switch unit according to magnitude of the output voltage, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
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This application is based on and claims the benefit of Taiwan Application No. 101119253 filed May 30, 2012 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates generally to a photovoltaic power system with generation modules, and more particularly to a photovoltaic power system with generation modules that is controlled to continuously deliver electricity or discontinuously deliver electricity generated from photovoltaic panels by turning on or turning off a switch unit.
2. Description of Prior Art
The solar photovoltaic system provides a photovoltaic conversion to generate a DC power through the solar cell panels. Afterward, the DC power is converted into an AC power through a power conditioner to supply to a load or the converted AC power is grid-connected to an AC utility power through the utility grid bus. The solar photovoltaic system can be broadly divided into three categories: (1) stand-alone system, (2) grid-connection system, and (3) hybrid system.
The stand-alone system means that the solar photovoltaic system is completely operational without requiring external support and only directly supply to a load. Hence, the stand-alone system is generally built in remote areas or isolated islands. In particular, the required power electricity of a load is either the wind power or the solar power. The solar power or/and the wind power can further provide redundant power to charge the standby battery, whereas the load can be supplied through the battery when the solar power or/and the wind power is insufficient. The grid-connection system means that the solar photovoltaic system is further connected to the power grid of the electric power company. Hence, the grid-connection system is suitable for where the utility power can reach. When the amount of electricity generation of the solar photovoltaic system is greater than that of load demands, the redundant power remains would be delivered to the utility grid bus. On the other hand, the utility power can provide the required power electricity to a load when the amount of electricity generation of the solar photovoltaic system is insufficient. Furthermore, in order to improve the power supply reliability and quality, the hybrid system is developed. The solar photovoltaic system, which is combined with standby batteries, is temporarily separated from the utility power to provide power electricity to a load when the utility power fails. The solar photovoltaic system is further grid-connected to the utility grid bus until the utility power is available.
Because the photovoltaic electricity generation popularizes day after day, photovoltaic panels are usually installed on the roof to obtain the maximum of sunshine and light absorption efficiency. In addition, the grid-connection system is provided to feed back redundant power to the electric grid besides electricity for home use. Reference is made to
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a photovoltaic power system with generation modules to stop delivering electricity when the photovoltaic power system is operated under bad environmental conditions or interrupted by the electric arcing produced due to old or degraded power lines so that the photovoltaic power system can provide a fire cutting function to isolated itself from the caused fire accident due to extremely large DC high voltage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the invention is to provide a photovoltaic power system to solve the above-mentioned problems. Accordingly, the photovoltaic power system includes a plurality of generation modules and a main communication apparatus. The generation modules are electrically connected in series. Each of the generation modules has a photovoltaic panel assembly, a switch integrated apparatus, and a junction apparatus. The photovoltaic panel assembly has a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series. The switch integrated apparatus has a control unit and a switch unit. The switch unit is electrically connected to the control unit. The junction apparatus is electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the switch integrated apparatus and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generation module. The main communication apparatus is connected to the switch integrated apparatus of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch unit according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
Another object of the invention is to provide a photovoltaic power system to solve the above-mentioned problems. Accordingly, the photovoltaic power system includes a plurality of generation modules and a main communication apparatus. The generation modules are electrically connected in series. Each of the generation modules has a photovoltaic panel assembly, a power conversion unit, a junction apparatus, a control unit, and a communication unit. The photovoltaic panel assembly has a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series. The power conversion unit has a switch element. The junction apparatus is electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the power conversion unit and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generation module. The control unit is electrically connected to the switch element. The communication unit is electrically connected to the control unit and configured to provide wired or wireless communications to the control unit. The main communication apparatus is connected to the communication unit of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch element according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
Further another object of the invention is to provide a photovoltaic power system to solve the above-mentioned problems. Accordingly, the photovoltaic power system includes a plurality of generation modules and a main communication apparatus. The generation modules are electrically connected in series. Each of the generation modules has a photovoltaic panel assembly, a switch unit, a power conversion unit, a junction apparatus, a control unit, and a communication unit. The photovoltaic panel assembly has a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series. The power conversion unit has a switch element. The junction apparatus is electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the power conversion unit and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generated module. The control unit is electrically connected to the switch element. The communication unit is electrically connected to the control unit and configured to provide wired or wireless communications to the control unit. The main communication apparatus is connected to the communication unit of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch unit and the switch element according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, drawings and claims.
The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.
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In the first embodiment, the switch unit 2004 is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus 300. The generation module 10 continues delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit 2002 turns on the switch unit 2004, whereas the generation module 10 stops delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit 2002 turns off the switch unit 2004.
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In this embodiment, the power conversion unit 400 is a buck converter so that the switch element 402 is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus 300. Also, the switch unit 700 is connected in series to an output terminal of the power conversion unit 400. The communication unit 600 provides wired or wireless communications to the control unit 500. The generation module 30 continues delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit 500 turns on the switch element 402 and simultaneously turns on the switch unit 700. On the other hand, the generation module 30 stops delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit 500 turns off the switch element 402 or turns off the switch unit 700. As shown in
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Note that, a system output voltage Vout provided from the photovoltaic power system is equal to the sum of the module output voltages V1˜Vn.
Each of the generation modules 10_1˜10_n has a photovoltaic panel assembly, a switch integrated apparatus, a junction apparatus, and a communication unit (not shown). In particular, the circuit connections and circuit structures of these apparatuses can refer to the above-mentioned descriptions. Especially, the main communication apparatus 50 is optionally connected to the switch integrated apparatus of each generation modules 10_1˜10_n to turn on or turn off the switch unit according to magnitude of the corresponding output voltage V1˜Vn of each generation modules 10_1˜10_n, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels. That is, when the photovoltaic power system is operated under bad environmental conditions or interrupted by the electric arcing produced due to old or degraded power lines, the main communication apparatus 50 synchronously provides the corresponding main control signals S1˜Sn to turn on or turn off the switch unit according to the circuit topologies inside the generation modules to disconnect the in-series generation modules 10_1˜10_n to each other, thus providing a fire cutting function to isolated itself from the caused fire accident due to extremely large DC high voltage. On the other hand, when the bad environmental conditions are removed, the main communication apparatus 50 synchronously provides the corresponding main control signals S1˜Sn to turn on or turn off the switch unit to connect the generation modules 10_1˜10_n in series to each other, thus continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels. Note that, the main control signals S1˜Sn can be warning signals to disconnect the generation modules 10_1˜10_n once the photovoltaic power system occurs the emergency conditions, whereas the main control signals S1˜Sn can be recovery signals to connect the generation modules 10_1˜10_n once the emergency conditions are removed.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such substitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a plurality of generation modules electrically connected in series, each of the generation modules having:
- a photovoltaic panel assembly having a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series;
- a switch integrated apparatus having:
- a control unit; and
- a switch unit electrically connected to the control unit;
- a junction apparatus electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the switch integrated apparatus and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generation module; and
- a main communication apparatus connected to the switch integrated apparatus of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch unit according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
2. The photovoltaic power system in claim 1, wherein the switch integrated apparatus further comprising:
- a communication unit electrically connected to the control unit and the switch unit and configured to provide wired or wireless communications to the control unit, thus turning on or turning off the switch unit; and
- an auxiliary power unit electrically connected to the communication unit and configured to provide required electricity for the communication unit.
3. The photovoltaic power system in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch unit; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch unit.
4. The photovoltaic power system in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch unit; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch unit.
5. The photovoltaic power system in claim 2, wherein the switch unit is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch unit; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch unit.
6. The photovoltaic power system in claim 2, wherein the switch unit is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch unit; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch unit.
7. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a plurality of generation modules electrically connected in series, each of the generation modules having:
- a photovoltaic panel assembly having a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series;
- a power conversion unit having a switch element;
- a junction apparatus electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the power conversion unit and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generation module;
- a control unit electrically connected to the switch element; and
- a communication unit electrically connected to the control unit and configured to provide wired or wireless communications to the control unit; and
- a main communication apparatus connected to the communication unit of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch element according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
8. The photovoltaic power system in claim 7, wherein the generation module further comprising:
- an auxiliary power unit electrically connected to the communication unit and configured to provide required electricity for the communication unit.
9. The photovoltaic power system in claim 7, wherein the power conversion unit is a boost converter and the switch element is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element.
10. The photovoltaic power system in claim 8, wherein the power conversion unit is a buck converter and the switch element is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element; the generation module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element.
11. A photovoltaic power system, comprising:
- a plurality of generation modules electrically connected in series, wherein each of the generation modules having:
- a photovoltaic panel assembly having a plurality of photovoltaic panels electrically connected in series;
- a switch unit;
- a power conversion unit having a switch element;
- a junction apparatus electrically connected between the photovoltaic panel assembly and the power conversion unit and configured to collect electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels and configured to deliver collected electricity to an output terminal of the generation module;
- a control unit electrically connected to the switch element; and
- a communication unit electrically connected to the control unit and configured to provide wired or wireless communications to the control unit; and
- a main communication apparatus connected to the communication unit of the corresponding generation module and configured to turn on or turn off the switch unit and the switch element according to magnitude of an output voltage of the corresponding output terminal, thus controlling continuously delivering electricity or discontinuously delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels.
12. The photovoltaic power system in claim 11, wherein the generation module further comprising:
- an auxiliary power unit electrically connected to the communication unit and configured to provide required electricity for the communication unit.
13. The photovoltaic power system in claim 11, wherein the power conversion unit is a boost converter; the switch element is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the junction apparatus and the switch unit is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the power conversion unit; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element and turn off the switch unit; the generated module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element or turn on the switch unit.
14. The photovoltaic power system in claim 11, wherein the power conversion unit is a boost converter; the switch element is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the junction apparatus and the switch unit is connected in series to an output terminal of the power conversion unit; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element and turn on the switch unit; the generated module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element or turn off the switch unit.
15. The photovoltaic power system in claim 11, wherein the power conversion unit is a buck converter; the switch element is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus and the switch unit is connected in parallel to an output terminal of the power conversion unit; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element and turn off the switch unit; the generated module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element or turn on the switch unit.
16. The photovoltaic power system in claim 11, wherein the power conversion unit is a buck converter; the switch element is connected in series to an output terminal of the junction apparatus and the switch unit is connected in series to an output terminal of the power conversion unit; the generation module is configured to continue delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn on the switch element and turn on the switch unit; the generated module is configured to stop delivering electricity generated from the photovoltaic panels when the control unit is configured to turn off the switch element or turn off the switch unit.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 26, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 5, 2013
Applicant: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC. (Taoyuan County)
Inventors: Chi-Hsing HUANG (Taoyuan County), Sheng-Hua LI (Taoyuan County)
Application Number: 13/627,142
International Classification: H02J 1/00 (20060101);